Thirty-one students and three business professors \u2013 Karl Alorbi, Ph.D., Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D. and Carl Kirton \u2013 recently visited China and Hong Kong for 11 days as part of the University’s short-term business study abroad program. During the trip, students visited the Shanghai General Motors auto plant, a silk factory, the People’s University of Beijing and the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong. They also had the opportunity to sight-see at famous tourist destinations, such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe financial industry is a competitive marketplace that is looking for the brightest and most talented individuals to join leading firms the world over,\u201d said Yvette Blaney \u201914, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) student who works at Goldman Sachs. \u201cIn order to stand out amongst the sea of countless fellow colleagues, Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University has offered a competitive advantage for MBA students who are seeking an international cultural business experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Naatus agrees with Blaney\u2019s view on international business experience. \u201cOne of the best ways to study international business is to immerse yourself in the cultural and business environment of another country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
During the spring semester, business students enrolled in the undergraduate course \u201cDoing Business Overseas\u201d and the graduate course \u201cGlobal Business Cultural Experience\u201d spent time learning how companies operated within Asia. Several classroom sessions featured guest speakers with a deep knowledge of China and Hong Kong, including Physics Professor Debing Zeng, Ph.D.; returned Peace Corps volunteers who taught students about Chinese culture; and a travel consultant who leads cultural immersion trips to China.\u00a0Students also had to read several books\u00a0to learn more about China and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
“These short-term study abroad programs, like the one which took our students to China and Hong Kong, add value to the educational experiences of our students,\u201d said Dr. Alorbi. \u201cThis is real world education one can never simulate in the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the trip, students had the opportunity to meet with Professor Qingsi Li of the Renmin University of China, who discussed international business in China and Hong Kong. In addition, they met with United States Diplomat Scott Robinson at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong, who gave a presentation on his diplomatic role in Chinese government and\u00a0 business. Students also took a field trip to General Motors in Shanghai, where they witnessed first-hand how an overseas company operates.<\/p>\n
As part of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Jesuit mission, the group acquired musical instruments and gifted them to a special needs school in Shanghai in the spirit of Magis<\/i> \u2013 the restless desire to do more for the greater glory of God.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur business students had spent weeks raising funds and requesting donations of musical instruments, which were donated to several organizations through the Mark Obama Ndesandjo Foundation, whose goal is to \u2018foster cultural exchanges between Asia, America and Africa with an emphasis on helping young people appreciate art,\u2019\u201d said Dr. Naatus.\u00a0 \u201cThat stands out in my mind as one of the best experiences of the trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
The instruments, which were either donated by students or purchased in the United States, were transported to China by Cathay Pacific airline. The special cargo \u2013 which departed from Newark Liberty Airport \u2013 was transported free of charge, a feat made possible by the help of Professor Ed Harrison, who contacted the airline to arrange for the carriage of the instruments.<\/p>\n
Dr. Alorbi said, \u201cThis donation of musical instruments to the special needs school in Shanghai, China supports our Jesuit tradition of being \u2018men and women for others\u2019 across borders. We hope to strengthen this dimension of our short-term study abroad program in the future.”<\/p>\n
After presenting the instruments, Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s students were able to spend time with the school children from the special needs school in Shanghai, who, according to Dr. Naatus, \u201cwere so welcoming and friendly. They played traditional Chinese songs for our group and were so appreciative of the small gift we were able to give them.\u201d<\/p>\n
For their final projects, undergraduate students prepared a plan for relocating expatriate managers and their families to China for business ventures, and graduate students prepared a research paper and presentation on a topic of their choice, such as a comparison of the healthcare systems in China and the United States, a case study of Lenovo and its emergence as a Chinese global brand, or an analysis of joint ventures and the auto industry in China.<\/p>\n
To learn more about the undergraduate business program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University, please visit saintpeters.edu\/business-administration<\/a>. For the graduate business program, please visit saintpeters.edu\/graduate-business<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t